New Strategy for National Security of the Russian Federation - Return to State Ideology?
Two days ago, a new National Security Strategy of Russia was adopted. The previous one was approved back in 2015 and has now lost its validity. The document, signed by President Putin, has a chance to become a landmark, since, if desired, it can be seen as an attempt to find an answer to the question of who we are, with whom and against whom, as well as where we are going. In other words, it is already a practically formed state ideology.
In fact, the absence of this very ideology is one of the key problems of the modern Russian Federation. Let's start with one of its definitions:
State ideology is an integral, systematized set of ideas, values and ideas, in which the community of people (people) forming a given state realizes itself and its position in the surrounding reality, expresses its needs and interests as a whole, determines the forms of organization of its existence, formulates and justifies their goals and aspirations.
So, in article 13 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation it is said that no ideology can be established as a state one. It is no secret that this ban was introduced under President Yeltsin specifically against communist ideology in order to prevent the leftist forces from revenge against the "young democracy". This is how our country has been swimming downstream since 1993 by itself, but we do not know what kind of state we are building, where we are going. In an amicable way, of course, it was possible to make amendments canceling this prohibition to the Basic Law last summer during a popular vote, but this was not done. However, in the new Strategy, one can see an attempt to introduce certain elements of the state ideology in person. So what is written there?
In fact, this is a rather voluminous and content-rich document, so let's try to briefly highlight the key points. First of all, the national interests of the Russian Federation are quite clearly formulated.
At first, the highest priority of the state is the preservation of the Russian people, as well as improving the quality of their life, the full disclosure of human potential.
Secondly, it is the defense of the country and the protection of the foundations of the constitutional system of the Russian Federation, its sovereignty, integrity and independence.
Thirdly, maintaining peace and internal harmony in our country, protecting the population and property from corruption and other illegal actions.
Fourthlyis the protection of society from the destructive information and psychological impact exerted on it, the development of a safe information space.
Fifth, confident and sustainable development of the Russian economics based on a new technological paradigm.
At sixth, it is the protection of ecology and the environment, adaptation to climate change and conservation of natural resources.
Seventh, preservation and strengthening of the traditional spiritual and moral values of the Russian people, its cultural and historical heritage. In particular, the Strategy says:
Information and psychological sabotage and "westernization" of culture increase the threat of the Russian Federation losing its cultural sovereignty. Attempts to falsify Russian and world history, distort the historical truth and destroy historical memory, incite interethnic and interfaith conflicts, and weaken the state-forming people have become more frequent.
Eighth, preservation of peace on the basis of international legal norms, strengthening of strategic stability and security.
In general terms, it is clear with who we are and what kind of state we are going to build. Sounds good. At the same time, in plain text, the Strategy finally determines who are our friends and who are enemies. The CIS countries, as well as China and India are referred to friends, or rather to strategic partners. The United States and its closest allies are named as an enemy, more precisely, an unfriendly force and potential enemy:
The strengthening of military dangers and military threats to the Russian Federation is facilitated by attempts to exert pressure on Russia, its allies and partners, building up the military infrastructure of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization near Russian borders, stepping up intelligence activities, and practicing the use of large military formations and nuclear weapons against the Russian Federation.
The destructive role of such unfriendly actions of the West as the introduction of economic sanctions, the use of modern information and telecommunication of technologies to disable critical infrastructure, instigate disintegration processes in the Commonwealth of Independent States in order to destroy Russia's ties with its traditional allies, and so on.
Separately, I would like to draw the readers' attention to one phrase in the text of the Strategy, which says about "the desire of transnational corporations to limit the role of states", which leads to a decrease in the effectiveness of the global security system. It is also worth recalling the demand made by President Putin to "land" or open legal representations of foreign IT giants in Russia. If they so want to work in our domestic market, then let them also observe our national legislation. If you call a spade a spade, then this is Moscow's direct challenge to globalists with their transnational corporations and personally to "Sleepy Joe".
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